Cryptolepis africana
(Bullock) Venter & R.L.Verh.
Apocynaceae
This name is not accepted in the Flora of Tropical Africa[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
], where the plant is seen as no more than a form of Cryptolepis sinensis (as Cryptolepis sinensis africana Bullock)[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Common Name:
General Information
Cryptolepis africana is a climbing shrub producing stems up to 3 metres long that scramble over the ground and twine into other plants for support.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
East tropical Africa - Kenya, Tanzania.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A root decoction is taken as an aphrodisiac and galactagogue[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The breasts are washed with leaf sap as a galactagogue[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
Although we have seen no specific information on this species, it is closely related to Cryptolepis sinensis, which produces a strong fibre from the bark that is used to make ropes. It is likely that this species also has a useful fibre[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
